WA:Barnett says Alinta should calm down

The relationship between the West Australian government and the state's main gas retailer has sunk even lower, with the premier refusing to meet with the company until it "calms down".

The stoush was triggered by WA Premier Colin Barnett's decision to lift household gas prices by 10 per cent, well below what Alinta had been calling for to cover its rise in costs.

Alinta
CEO Jeff Dimery immediately attacked the premier, saying it was a politically expedient and self-serving decision that amounted to a "bandaid solution to cover up the government's mismanagement of the energy sector".

Mr Barnett said it was an "extraordinary" and "colourful" response from Alinta - the like of which he had never seen used by a company towards a government.

"I'll dismiss it and put it to one side as the heat of the moment. It's not really the way the company should behave and I don't think it would impress too many people in business," he told ABC Radio.

The premier said given the response by Alinta he would not be meeting with Mr Dimery in the near future.

"When he calms down, we're prepared to have discussions about further price changes," Mr Barnett said.

The decision to lift gas prices came after the WA economic regulator allowed the state's main gas pipeline operator to charge Alinta 29 per cent more for the use of its gas distribution network.